Apparatus for indicating and marking declinations and elevations in highways and other surfaces



E.KEEN ETAL June 9, 1964 3,136,070 APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND MARKING DECLINATIONS AND ELEVATIONS IN HIGHWAYS AND OTHER SURFACES Filed July 5, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 HVVUHVTYDRS v fish 487W XfK/V fkm r n4 (km 5 MmflM/z ATTORNEYS June 9, 1964 N L 3,136,070

APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND MARKING DECLINATIONS AND ELEVATIONS IN HIGHWAYS AND OTHER SURFACES Filed July 5, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS flfin aefl/ 1 55 izqwz Mai/w: MfM

3,136,070 ATIONS URFACES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 June '9, 6 E. KEEN ETAL APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND MARKING DECLIN AND ELEVATIONS IN HIGHWAYS AND OTHER S Filed July 5, 1962 INVENTORS Y flame/7v K f/ fZQA/K h/ZZ/A E- 1977'4E/VEY5 Illlllfl IIIIIIiIIIIII/ll/ r United States Patent Ofifice 3,135,670 Patented June 9, 1964 Filed July 5, 1962, Ser. No. 207,690 3 Claims. (Cl. 33-474) This invention relates to an apparatus for indicating and marking declinations or elevations in a highway, a landing strip, or other flat surface, wherein minor declinations or elevations present operating difficulties.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an elongated normally level frame carried by wheels at either end thereof, one pair of wheels being steerable, and having means carried at substantially its midpoint whereby a declination or elevation may be indicated visually, and simultaneously marked.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a device wherein an elevation is marked in one color, and a declination in a different color.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a device wherein paint or other material for marking such elevations or declinations is supplied by the actuation of a vertically movable swivel wheel and associated connections, elevation of the wheel opening a valve to release one color of paint or other material to mark an elevation, and declination of the wheel opening a second valve to release paint or other material of a different color, the valve remaining open until the elevation or declination is passed, and the swivel wheel returns to its normal position in alignment with the front and rear wheels of the frame.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means, including microswitches, that will actuate the valves to open substantially immediately upon the indication of a declination or elevation by the position of the swivel wheel, so that there will be no time lag between the movement of the wheel and the flow of paint into the declination or over the elevation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a device having a visual indicator carrying a pointer, the position of the pointer being also governed by the elevation or declination of the swivel wheel, so as to be readily visible to an operator at either end of the frame.

Still other objects reside in the provision of a device of this character which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation, fast and accurate in marking and indication, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and utilize.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter, and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of apparatus constructed in accordance with the instant invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of FIGURE 1, parts thereof being broken away.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is a side view, partially in elevation, and partially in section, with certain concealed parts thereof being broken away, taken substantially through the vertical longitudinal center line of the centrally positioned indicator and marking box of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, but taken at substantially right angles thereto.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, one form of apparatus incorporating the instant invention is generally indicated at 10 and comprises an elongated straight rectangular beam 11, which carries at one end a brace or support 12 for an axle 13 which carries a pair of oppositely disposed rubber tired wheels 14 in fixed relation. At the other end of frame member 11 are a similar pair of rubber tired wheels 15 which are mounted on an axle, and steerable by means of a tongue 16 having a hitch 17 at the extremity thereof by means of which the apparatus may be towed. Centrally positioned on the beam 11 is a box or casing generally indicated at 20, which comprises a combined indicator and marking box. The box 20 comprises a receptacle 21 mounted on the top of frame member 11, and having on each side thereof a dial 22 which is provided with high and low markings. A pointer 23 is mounted on a shaft 24 and is moved in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter to indicate high and low places, or declinations and elevations in the road or other surface over which the device of FIGURE 1 is moved.

Depending from receptacle 21 is a frame member 24a which includes top and bottom plates 25 and 26 which are provided with central openings surrounded by bearings 27 and 28, respectively, which is vertically slidable and which carries a rotatably mounted post 29. The upper end of the post is held in position by means of a washer 3t) and a head 31, so that the post and frame may move vertically relative to frame 11. Top plate 25 carries a frame member 32, which carries a centrally disposed rack 33, which upon upward and downward movement of post 22 rotates a pinion 34 connected by shaft 24, for simultaneous rotation of the two pointers 23, which are positioned adjacent the oppositely disposed dials 22 on the front and rear of the box 21.

Post 29 is mounted in a bearing sleeve 36 positioned interiorly of frame 11 and carries at its lower end a swivelable bracket 37 in which is mounted a rotatable swivel wheel 38, the wheel 33 traveling over the surface of the road or other surface being surveyed, and moving vertically in accordance with any declinations or elevations therein. S

An axle 39 supports caster wheel 38 in the for rotative and vertical movement. As the wheel 38 moves upwardly and downwardly in accordance with the surface of the roadway, the shaft 24 is rotated by means of the rack 33, which is carried by frame member 32 as previously described. Such movement rotates the pointers 23, which are carried by the end caps 40 of shaft 24 to indicate either a high or low portion of the surface. The ends of shaft 24 are mounted in bushing 41 carried by a supporting bracket 42 interiorly of the box or receptacle 21, as best shown in FIGURE 4.

Carried by straps 45 on opposite sides of box 21 are a pair of paint cans 46 and 47, which are adapted to contain a supply of paint, of different colors. Each can is provided with a removable cap 48 to permit refilling of the same, and each at its lower end is provided with an outlet and a manually controlled valve 4?. Each valve 49 is in a supply line 50 and 51, respectively of the tanks 46 and 47,'which supply lines extend to a pair of oppositely disposed solenoid valves 52 and 53, respectively, carried by the ends of a cross bar 54 which is in turn supported by the movable frame member 24. From the lower portions of the valves 52 and 53, paint nozzles 55 and 56 depend, in relatively close juxtaposition to swivel wheel 38 and on opposite sides thereof.

As the valves are opened selectively in a manner to bracket 3 be more fully described hereinafter, paint of one color is ejected from nozzle while paint or another color is ejected from nozzle 56 in accordance with high and low spots in the road.

Guide rollers 60 are mounted on opposite sides of a shaft 61 which extends through a transverse bushing or bearing 62 extending across the frame member 11, and closely engage the sides of frame 24a to hold the same in close juxtaposition to a transversely extending frame member 63 which supports on its opposite sides a pair of microswitches 64 and 65, respectively, which through connections 66 and 67, operate the solenoid valves 52 and 53.

The switches 64 and are each provided with an actuating button 63 and 69, respectively, which is engaged by an arm 70 and 71, respectively, the arms being mounted on oppositely disposed stub axles 72 and 73 and held by springs 74 and 75 for simultaneous movement towards and away from the respective actuating buttons by cam follower arms 75 and '76 also mounted on the axles 72 and 73. Projecting lugs 76 and 77 secured to the frame member serve as additional support for the stub axles 72 and 73.

Each cam follower arm 75 and 76 carries at its upper end a rotatable cam follower 77 and 78, respectively, rotatably mounted on its associated arm, and adapted to engage a fixed vertical depending cam member 80 and 81, respectively.

The cams 80 and 81 are fixed as by means of bolts 82 to portions of frame members 83 supported on frame 11 and interiorly of box 88. The cams 80 and 81 are provided with a central high dwell 85, and are alternately provided with an upper low dwell 86 in the case of the cam 80 and a lower l-ow dwell in the case of the cam 81, the latter being indicated by the reference character 87.

The arrangement is thus such that when swivel caster wheel 33 and its associated mechanism is raised by an elevation in the pavement or road surface P, one of the cam followers 75 moves to the low dwell portion of its associated cam 80 and actuates microswitch 64 to open valve 52 and admit paint through nozzle 57 painting the high spot one color. When a low spot declination is reached, the opposite effect is afforded by cam follower 80 engaging the low dwell 87, which in turn through its associated microswitch, opens the opposite valve 53 to emit paint through the nozzle 56, and color the depression or declination a different color.

Power is supplied to the microswitches from a conventional battery 90 contained within the box or casing 21, the entire operation of discharging paint through one of the other nozzles 55 or 56 in accordance with the declination or elevation present in the surface P is thus effectuated automatically, and at the same time the pointers 23 on their associated dials 22 indicate the high or low spot for further treatment.

Box 21 is provided with a removable cover 91, to permit access to the internal mechanism.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved apparatus for marking declinations and elevations in a road surface or the like,

which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for marking declinations and elevations in a road surface or the like comprising an elongated frame, fixed wheels at one end of said frame, steerable wheels at the other end of said frame, an indicating and marking unit disposed at substantially the midpoint of said frame, a swivel wheel mounted for vertical movement depending beneath said frame and contacting said surface, said swivel wheel being mounted on a vertically slidable post, an indicator box mounted on said frame, a dial on said box, a movable pointer for said dial, a shaft carrying said pointer and extending through said box, a central pinion carried by said shaft and a rack carried by said post, said rack operably engaging said pinion to rotate said pinion and through said shaft to move said pointer, two cans of differently colored paints being secured to said box, a paint supply nozzle connected through a supply line to each can with one nozzle depending on each side of said swivel wheel and closely adjacent thereto, a normally closed valve in each supply line, and means for opening one of said valves upon lowering of said swivel wheel and its associated post, and opening the other of said valves upon raising of said swivel wheel and its associated post, whereby to mark a declination with one color paint and an elevation with another color paint, said last-mentioned means including a pair of cams, one having an upper low dwell and the other having a lower low dwell, and a pair of separately operable cam followers carried by said post, means connecting each cam follower with a valve to open one valve upon engagement of one cam follower with its associated low dwell and to open the other valve upon engagement of the other cam follower with its associated low dwell.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein each cam is provided with an intermediate high dwell which when engaged by said cam followers retains both valves in closed position or closes an open valve.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein a pair of microswitches are provided in said box, each connected with one valve, a battery is provided in said box to power said microswitches, and engagement of a cam follower with its associated low dwell actuates one microswitch to open its associated valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,595,417 Rayton Aug. 10, 1926 2,045,563 Benson June 30, 1936 2,047,327 Muirhead et al. July 14, 1936 2,181,077 Street Nov. 21, 1939 2,224,728 Gulliksen Dec. 10, 1940 3,037,294 De Graff June 5, 1962 

1. APPARATUS FOR MARKING DECLINATIONS AND ELEVATIONS IN A ROAD SURFACE OR THE LIKE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED FRAME, FIXED WHEELS AT ONE END OF SAID FRAME, STEERABLE WHEELS AT THE OTHER END OF SAID FRAME, AN INDICATING AND MARKING UNIT DISPOSED AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE MIDPOINT OF SAID FRAME, A SWIVEL WHEEL MOUNTED FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT DEPENDING BENEATH SAID FRAME AND CONTACTING SAID SURFACE, SAID SWIVEL WHEEL BEING MOUNTED ON A VERTICALLY SLIDABLE POST, AN INDICATOR BOX MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, A DIAL ON SAID BOX, A MOVABLE POINTER FOR SAID DIAL, A SHAFT CARRYING SAID POINTER AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BOX, A CENTRAL PINION CARRIED BY SAID SHAFT AND A RACK CARRIED BY SAID POST, SAID RACK OPERABLY ENGAGING SAID PINION TO ROTATE SAID PINION AND THROUGH SAID SHAFT TO MOVE SAID POINTER, TWO CANS OF DIFFERENTLY COLORED PAINTS BEING SECURED TO SAID BOX, A PAINT SUPPLY NOZZLE CONNECTED THROUGH A SUPPLY LINE TO EACH CAN WITH ONE NOZZLE DEPENDING ON EACH SIDE OF SAID SWIVEL WHEEL AND CLOSELY ADJACENT THERETO, A NORMALLY CLOSED VALVE IN EACH SUPPLY LINE, AND MEANS FOR OPENING ONE OF SAID VALVES UPON LOWERING OF SAID SWIVEL WHEEL AND ITS ASSOCIATED POST, AND OPENING THE OTHER OF SAID VALVES UPON RAISING OF SAID SWIVEL WHEEL AND ITS ASSOCIATED POST, WHEREBY TO MARK A DECLINATION WITH ONE COLOR PAINT AND AN ELEVATION WITH ANOTHER COLOR PAINT, SAID LAST-MENTIONED MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF CAMS, ONE HAVING AN UPPER LOW DWELL AND THE OTHER HAVING A LOWER LOW DWELL, AND A PAIR OF SEPARATELY OPERABLE CAM FOLLOWERS CARRIED BY SAID POST, MEANS CONNECTING EACH CAM FOLLOWER WITH A VALVE TO OPEN ONE VALVE UPON ENGAGEMENT OF ONE CAM FOLLOWER WITH ITS ASSOCIATED LOW DWELL AND TO OPEN THE OTHER VALVE UPON ENGAGEMENT OF THE OTHER CAM FOLLOWER WITH ITS ASSOCIATED LOW DWELL. 